A Brief History Of Edam Cheese

Produced in the Netherlands since the Middle Ages, Edam might be the most popular cheese in the world. This golden, creamy delight has charmed millions of people throughout the centuries and is now part of many international cuisines.
As its name suggests, the semi-hard cow’s cheese originated in the Dutch city of Edam. Like other townships in the northeastern part of the Netherlands during the Medieval period, the area of Edam was well known for its fertile hinterlands and prosperous dairy industry. At some point in the town’s early history, farmers began producing a soft, yellow cheese that was eventually given the name Edam – as a way to differentiate it from other similar goods that were circulating throughout the Dutch and international food market.

During the Age of Exploration, many Dutch merchants kept their ships stocked with large quantities of Edam cheese, as it remained edible even after lengthy sea voyages. In fact, Edam matures at a much slower pace than most cheeses, and its taste remains relatively stable for a considerable amount of time, meaning that the cheese became a common sight in many Dutch colonies and was eventually added to other European traders’ inventories.

Due to its extremely versatile nature, Edam found its way into many international cuisines and is often treated as a delicacy. In Mexico, for example, people living in the state of Yucatán cut balls of Edam in half and then stuff it with meat and seasonings in order to create a spicy dish called queso relleno, which is served with a chicken stock. Edam is also extremely popular in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where it is battered in breadcrumbs and then fried in hot oil.

Fried Edam (smažený sýr) is commonly eaten in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.